Safety filling valve for liquefied gas containers



June l, 1965 L. F. s. TISSOT-DUPONT 3,186,449

SAFETY FILLING VALVE FOR LIQUEFIED GAS CONTAINERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 4, 1962 Fim fr ne.. T f

June l, 1965 F. s. TISSOT-DUPONT 3,186,449

SAFETY FILLING VALVE FOR LIQUEFIED GAS CONTAINERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 4, 1962 )ls-m:

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United States YPatent O Lucien Franais Simon Tissot-Dupont, Paris, France,

assignor to S.A.R.L.S.T. Dupont, Faverges, Haute- Savoie, France l Filed Jan. 4, 1962, Ser. No. 164,293 Claims priority, application France, Jan. 13, 1961,

41,112, Patent 1,278,877

8 Claims. (Cl. 141-295) My invention relates to improved valves serving for the filling of containers, whether removable or otherwise, with liquefied gas under pressure, and my invention is particularly applicable to the containers of gas lighters.

One of the requirements in all the methods for filling such containers is that it is necessary not to completely fill the container in order to prevent deformation of the latter in case of .an increase in presure due to an increase in temperature.

'As a matter of fact, the coefficient of expansion of liquefied gas is very high and the stresses applied to the container are more substantial than the vapor pressure of the actual gas so that the container has a tendency to become deformed and to allow the liquid to occupy a larger volume.

If the stresses rise beyond the elastic limit of the material of the container, the deformation becomes permanent and, in extreme cases, the container may burst.

Various known methods for filling such containers provide either for the passage into the lighter only of a reduced amount of gas or else there is produced a transient leak after the filling so as to leave a space in the container which is not filled with liquid and thereby enable any possible expansion.

My invention has for an object to allow a complete filling of the container by means of a refilling container of a larger capacity without any risk of mishap.

My improved filling valve associates with its own operation that of .a spring loaded safety valve, in which the spring is gauged so as to open before the pressure due to a possible increase in temperature reaches the limit of elastic deformation of the container.

Said valve also allows the gas to escape as-required, whennecessary, either at the end of thefilling operation through an overflow, or before said filling operation so as to lower the internal pressure in the container and to increase the speed of transfer of the liquefied gas.

According to my invention, said valve closes in the direction of the flow of gas entering the container whereas the valve opens in the direction of exhaust, whereby it may function as a safety valve. i

The filling is accomplished by a refilling container, the capacity of which is equal to or larger than that of the lighter container, said refilling containers being screwed directly or otherwise over the valve. Said refilling container, when it engagesthe valve body or the container, shifts the valve in the direction of its opening during the screwing down of said refilling container. The valve head as it moves bears in turn against the valve head on the refilling container which establishes communication 3,186,449 Patented June 1, 1965 ice means in a limiting sense, in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, wherein:

FlG. 1 illustrates in vertical sectional view a first embodiment of the arrangement prior to the filling operation with the refill container already introduced inside the lighter container, without however the valves being opened. i

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the refill container fuly engaged so as to open the valves which interconnect the two containers.

FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment.

FIGS. 4, S and 6 illustrate further modifications.

In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. l and Z, the

valve body or socket 1 is secured to the container 2 by being threadably engaged in the lighter container 2. A packing 3 ensures fiuidtightness between the body 1 and the container 2. A frustoconical valve head 4 bears under the action of a gauged spring 7 against .a toroidal packing 5 inserted inside a groove 6 at the bottom of the valve body 1. The stem carrying said valve head and together therewith constituting a valve element is screwed over the connection 8 which is tapped at its upper broader end. A flat surface 9 formed laterally on the connection 8 prevents rotation of the valve head which is held in position by a ring 10 engaging said fiat surface and which also holds in position'the spring 7 urging the valve downwards. A push member 11 is fitted inside the connection 8. An annular packing 12 is inserted between the upper ends of the valve body 1 and of the container 2.

The refilling container carrying the liquefied gas terminates with a neck 13 ending with a threaded section of a reduced diameter and inside which is housed a valve 15 subjected to the action of a spring, and the head of which is shown at 14.

When the neck 13 is screwed into the connection 8, the push member 11 enters the neck 13 of therefill container, while fiuidtightness is ensured between said two parts by reason of the plasticity of said neck. The refill container rests then on the packing 12.

If the refill container is then pulled against the pressure of the spring 7, the valve head 4 of the lighter container rises and allows the escape of all or of a fraction of the gas which may be contained inside the container 2. Said gas passes around the valve head 4 and inside the connection 8 and escapes between the valve body 1 and the connection 8, since the neck 13 of the refill container is no longer in contact with the packing 12. The lowering in temperature produced by the expansion "of the gas then allows a speedy subsequent filling of the container 1.

For this filling, it is sufficient to continue screwing down the refill container without exerting any traction on the latter. Since the connection S and the valve 4 cannot revolve and are held angularly in position by the flat surface 9, said parts rise under the action of said screwing. This being done, the push member 11 is urged upwardly and pushes the head 14 of the valve 1S of the refill container to open the latter and provide communication between the two containers.

Since the pressure is higher in the refill container, the liquefied gas flows out of the latter and fills entirely the lighter container 2 by passing over and along the valve head 15 and through the channelsV 16-17 formed in the connection 8 and in the valve head 4 so as to reach the opening 18 in the valve body 1. Once lling is completed, it is sufficient to unscrew the refill container whereby the valves close in a sequence opposite to that Vduring the filling operation.

It is apparent that, if the liquefied gas expands, the valve operates as a safety valve since the spring 7 is gauged so as to provide for the opening of the valve 4 before the pressure reaches the limit corresponding to elastic deformation of the container 2.

The user may, if he prefers, instead of unscrewing completely the refill container return the arrangement into the positionl of FIG. l for which the two valves are closed and then draw out during a very short time the refill container, so asto'allow the escape of a small amount of gas which compensates for any possible thermal expansion. It is also possible when the arrangement is in the position of FIG. 2 for which both valves are opened, to fill only partly the lighter container by drawing out the refill which place the lighter container in connection withthe atmosphere, provided the cross-section serving for the filling is larger :than the leak cross-section.

FIG. 3 illustrates a further embodiment of the inven-L tion in which the connection 8 is omitted and the valve 19 is screwed directly inside the neck of the refill container equipped with a valve 21. The valves 19 and 2l are shown in FIG. 3 as not yet being opened, while the rell container engages already the packing 22 engaging a member rigid with the container l.

The possible operations of such an embodiment are the same as those of the first-described embodiment, to Wit: f

The refill container is drawn out against the action of spring 7 so as to connect the lighter container with the atmosphere, the rell container not being then opened, while the pressure is reduced inside the lighter container, which promotes the filling of the latter; A

The refill container is screwed completely home,v which connects the two containers with each other and allows a complete lling of the lighter;

The refill container may be completely unscrewed and allow operation, if required, of the safety valve or, in contradistinction purposely'allow the escape of any excess gas;

The lightercontainer maybe filled to only a partial extent, so as to leave the two containers connected with the atmosphere when the two valves are opened.

FIGS 4 and 6 show further modifications wherein a flat packing 23 (FIG. 4) or, a cylindrical packing 24 (FIG. 6) is used, instead of the toroidal packings 5 and 25 of the preceding embodiments, the cooperating valves being suitably shaped to match said packings.

FIG. 5 Villustrates a further modification wherein the spring 2.6 for the lighter valve lies outside the valve bodyV 27 and is carried consequently inside the container. Y Lastly, it is obvious that the above-disclosed embodiments areby no means to be construed in a limiting sense and it is possible, within the scope of the invention, as defined in the accompanying claims, to provide various modifications, for instance, by resorting to different types of valves, connections or springs. What I claim is: Y n

1. A coupling for connecting a threaded neck of a gas refill container with a further container for filling said further container With gas from the refill container, said coupling comprising a tubular first element adapted for being securedv in said further container and having an opening for establishing, communication with the interior of said further container, a second element projecting within the first said element and including a threaded portion adapted for threadable engagement with the neck of the relill container, means on said first element engaging the` second element to permit only non-rotative axial displacement of said second element within the first element, said second element constituting a valve element and being displaceable in said first element as said neckof the refill container is threadably advanced in the second element to move the valve element from a first position in which the opening in the first element isV blocked to a second position in which said opening is open, and resilient means engaging said valve element to urge the same towards said first position whereby displacement of the valve element to the second position is resisted by the resilient' means.

Cil

2. A coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein said gas refill container has valve means normally closing the same, the coupling further comprising means engaging with the second. element for contacting and opening the valve means in said gas rell container as the refill container is threadedly engaged in the second element beyond a predetermined point.

3. A safety valve fora container which valve also is operableto permit refilling of the container from a gas refill container, said safety valve comprising a valve element slidably supported in the first said container, resilient means urging said valve element to a closed position for said first container with aforce calibrated to be overcome by a predetermined pressure within said container to limit the same, s'aid valve element including a portion which is detachably engageable with saidv refill container whereby said valve element maybe displaced to an open position for said container in said body by moving saidrefill container and the valve element engaged therewith, and means establishing communication between the gas refill container and said lirst container with the valve element displaced to jan open position against the action of the resilient means whereby said first container may be refilled with gas from the refill container.

4. A safety valve as claimed in claim 3 wherein said portion of the valve element is threaded and is adapted for being threadably engaged by said gas relill container, said means which establishes communication between the gas refill container and the other container including Aa push member on the valve element for opening the gas refill container as said valve element and refill container are threadably engaged together beyond a predetermined point.

5. A coupling for detachably connecting a gas refill container with .a further container, said coupling comprising first and second threaded means respectively associated With said gas refill container andsaid further container for threadably connecting the containers together, the means associated with the further container being a valve element supported in the further container only for translatory non-rotative movement, resilient means resiliently urging the valve element in a first direction tov a position to close said further container, said Yvalve element undergoing translatory movement in a direction opposite said first direction .and against the action of the resilient means to open said further container upon relative rotational movement of said refill container and said further container in a direction tending to further threadably engage the refill container in the further container, said valve `element having a channel in communication with the gas refill container and permitting the flow of gas from the refill container to the further container in said'first direction, said valve element, with the refill container disengaged therefrom, closing the further container and permitting outflow of gas from the further container as the pressure of the gas therein yexceeds thev strength of the resilient means. t

6. A coupling'for the connection of a first container to a threaded tubular neck of a gas refill container having a valve in said tubular member, said coupling comprising an elongated socket adaptedfor being secured in said first container and provided with an opening constituting a valve seat, a tubular valve element including a threaded portion adapted for coaxially' and threadably engaging the neck of therelill container, said. tubular valve element being slidably and non-rotatably supported in said elongated socket, said valveelement undergoing translation in said socket, by rotation of the rell container to which it is threadably engaged, between an inoperative position in which the valve element is engaged against the seat to close the first container and .an operative position in which the valve element is spaced from said Seat, the valve element being provided with a channel which is in communication with the neck of the refill container with clearance i space around the valve element to allow, in the operative position of the valve element, the passage ofgas out of the first container in the direction of translation of the valve element from said seat and for the passage of gas into the first container from the refill container in a direction opposite said direction of translation, and a spring urging the valve element against said seat.

7. A coupling for connecting to a first container, a gas refill container having a threaded neck and a valve in said neck, said coupling comprising an elongated socket adapted for being secured in said first container and including a bottom having an opening for providing communication with the interior of thefirst container, said bottom constituting a valve seat, a tubular valve element including a threaded portion adapted for being coaxially and threadably engaged with the neck of the refill container, said tubular valve element being axially accommodated in the elongated socket, means in said socket engaging said valve element to permit axial movement thereof in said socket while preventing turning of the valve element inside the socket, said valve element including a valve stem extending within the socket with lateral clearance, and a depending valve head on said stem facing said bottom of the socket, said valve element being adapted to move, upon relative rotation Vof the first container andthe refill container, between an inoperative position in which the valve head closes the seat in the socket bottom and an operative position in which the valve head on the valve element is spaced from said seat, the valve element being provided with a channel providing communication between the neck of the refill container with the clearance space around the valve stem of the valve element to allow,

in the operative position of the valve element, the passage of gas out of the first container in the direction of translation of the valve element from said seat and the pas sage of gas into the first container in a direction opposite to said direction of translation, and a spring acting on the valve element urging the valve head against said seat, said spring having a predetermined strength to allow the valve element to be displaced and the valve head spaced from the seat at a predetermined value of pressure corresponding to the elastic limit of deformation of the container.

8. A coupling as claimed in claim 7 comprising a push member supported inthe valve element for penetrating into the neck of the refill container upon translational movement of the valve to open the valve in the neck of the gas refill container.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,401,674 6/46 Vizay 141-349 XR 2,728,508 12/55 Peterson 141-349 2,882,940 4/59 Zellweger 141--293 2,989,091 6/61 Lowenthal 141-354 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 1,227,311 3/60 France.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

LOUIS J. DEMBO, Examiner. 

1. A COUPLING FOR CONNECTING A THREADED NECK OF A GAS REFILL CONTAINER WITH A FURTHER CONTAINER FOR FILLING SAID FURTHER CONTAINER WITH GAS FROM THE REFILL CONTAINER, SAID COUPLING COMPRISING A TUBULAR FIRST ELEMENT ADAPTED FOR BEING SECURED IN SAID FUTHER CONTAINER AND HAVING AN OPENING FOR ESTABLISHING COMMUNICATION WITH THE INTERIOR OF SAID FURTHER CONTAINER, A SECOND ELEMENT PROJECTING WITHIN THE FIRST SAID ELEMENT AND INCLUDING A THREADED PORTION ADAPTED FOR THREADABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE NECK OF THE REFILL CONTAINER, MEANS ON SAID FIRST ELEMENT ENGAGING THE SECOND ELEMENT TO PERMIT ONLY NON-ROTATIVE AXIAL DISPLACEMENT OF SAID SECOND ELEMENT WITHIN THE FIRST ELEMENT, SAID SECOND ELEMENT CONSTITUTING A VALVE ELEMENT AND BEING 